This is me at 39.  I wonder what I’ll look like at 40.  

On a few other notes…

My workshops are well-attended. This makes my heart so happy! So many new knitters and crocheters!

I’m almost finished with my first level submissions for the master hand-knitter’s certification. I cursed the end of level project mitten last night but… I believe it’s under control now.  (I really dislike that mitten.)

I’ve got some exciting travels (big ones) planned in the next six months. I’m having such a hard time containing my glee.

I might actually be able to work with my Philly yarn soon. Why do projects seem to pop up all the time that keep me from that mini-stash?

Oh! and Jane Richmond’s new West Coast Cardigan just came out. OMG, I want to make this sweater so bad. She writes in her blog post that this sweater is a pretty quick knit. I also know exactly where I can get me some of the Briggs & Little Country Roving. But I shouldn’t spend money on yarn – I should be saving it for my trips. What do I do???!!! (Price out the yarn. If it’s under $50, I’m going for it.)

For now, back to my icky mitten and a movie.

Picture yourself knitting 12 baby sets + six pair of the exact same leg warmers in different colors.  Wait!  Let’s make that 9 pair of the exact same leg warmers.  All this should be ready for next Friday, September 15th.  I’m half way. What do you think the chances are that I’ll be done?  Slim to none.  I wonder how she’ll take that.

Honestly, I’m SO over baby booties that it may be years before I agree to make another set.

Here’s a peek at what I’m talking about:

Cute right?  Not really!!!

Dear socks:  I miss you so much.

Sophisticate:  I know you’re missing buttons…  I’m so sorry.  I promise that on the 16th, you’ll get buttons.

Felted Slippers (they have no name yet):  I wrote out your pattern yesterday.  I promise you’ll have your moment in the spotlight at my workshop on September 22nd.

In the meantime, back to my booties!  Grrr.

Summer for me always starts when the spinning guild ladies get together for our annual spinning weekend at White Lake.  We rent a bunch of cottages and hang outside, go for walks, eat, drink wine and spin/knit/crochet.  It’s really wonderful.

It came to me a few weeks ago that I hadn’t received a knitting/crochet order in months.  Honestly, I’m thrilled.  This means I’ve had more time than usual to work on things I want to work on.  This also means that I get to start using up my stash – which is really getting out of hand.  (What I should do is have a little sale.  I could probably pay for a trip.  That is not a joke.)

The workshops are going really well.  Oddly, the crochet classes are more popular than the knitting classes.  I never would have guessed.  I’ve always preferred knitting.  But crochet definitely has some perks.  I’ll be starting over in the fall with beginner workshops and then some more advanced workshops for the girls who have been coming since the beginning.  I’m already planning.  

Did I mention in my previous posts that my friend Bonnie and I are working on our Master Handknitter certification?  It’s been very interesting.  Trying to get a perfectly even rib really sucks – my ribbing sucks.

I finished my Icelandic sweater and then tackled Still Light and the X-Stitch Shrug.  That’s three sweaters so far this year.

I did, however, get a few orders this week after someone posted the Azel Pullover by Velvet Acorn Designs.  It’s a super fun and pretty little knit.  And I had no projects on the go or waiting in the wings.

These days though, for some reason, I’m feeling really really inspired.  My creative juices, bla bla bla.  I always want to be making something.  I get annoyed when I can’t knit or crochet.  Someone will say “can you do that” and the wheels start turning.

I purchased this course from Craftsy:  Professional Yarn Dyeing at Home by Sarah Eyre.  It’s so fun.  I need a crockpot and some acid dyes.  Now I want to dye everything.

I’m really frustrated that I don’t have more time.  I want time to design and knit.  I want time to spin (yarn).  I want time to work on my Master certification. I want time to dye yarn.  I want time to read books. I want time to do more yoga and to study things related to yoga so I can become a better teacher.

Somehow, my summer schedule is looking pretty ok though.  I’m hopeful that there will be more Creative Time in my immediate future.  I’m doing a few private lessons this month.  How fun.  I’m excited.  I never thought…

Life is good.

I didn’t suck.  And the workshop couldn’t have gone better.  The six ladies I had were amazing.  They all caught on quickly, were patient and I’m pretty sure they had fun.  Yesssss!

Introducing my first batch of students, ever.

Before:

After:

Look at the smiles!  And look how much they got done.  So impressed.

The crochet workshop on December 2nd is actually overbooked.  I’m not too sure how that happened but I’ll figure it out.  That’s 13 people!  I hope I can manage it.

What else have I been up to?  Let’s see…

I made a couple of these Ash Mittens by Rowan.  Love them.  Modified them big-time from the original pattern though.  Knit with magic loop instead of on two needles with a seam (yuck).  Modified the thumb and number of rows.  I guess I pretty much did my own thing.  I also have a completely new thumb method I’m itching to try out.

I made this giant mess in my living room trying to match up the colors of two balls of Charisma to make this scarf, which I’m not thrilled with.  It’s not horrendous but I’m not in love with it.  I got enough yarn at Michael’s to make four of these.  I’m not sure what to do with the rest.

I’ve been trying out some new Paleo recipes as we’re pretty sure I’m celiac.  I’m trying to get used to eating this way all the time and well, I’m kind of hungry all the time.  I’m sure things will work themselves out.  There are a tonne of great sites and blogs out there to help me find good “clean” food.

I also got some fun pictues from Mel showing off the Catnis Cowl I made for her last year.  Thanks Mel!  I love it when people are proud to wear my stuff.

I have a few more orders to finish before the holidays, which means I’m getting closer to being able to start my Icelandic sweater.  Can’t wait!

Today, I’m excited because I’m actually getting requests for more workshops.  Love it.

Well, that’s it for me for today.  I’m off this weekend and joining the family at a big farmhouse on the water near Picton, Ontario for our 2015 Annual Christmas Family Vacation.   I even scoped out the yarn shop in the area for my mom and my traditional yarn shop excursion.  Yahoooo!